Juke confident goals will come

Chris Boden

Lukas Jutkiewicz and strike partner Danny Ings are relishing the challenge of the Premier League.

The pair are yet to find the net in three games so far, but summer signing Jutkiewicz feels there are signs the pair can prosper at the top level.

Jutkiewicz netted six goals in as many pre-season games, and has gone close against Swansea City and Manchester United, while Ings’ last strike for the Clarets was his 26th club goal of last season on the final day at Reading in May.

He has also had opportunities to get off the mark, notably against Swansea.

But Jutkiewicz feels his first Burnley goal, since his summer move from Middlesbrough, is hopefully around the corner.

Ahead of tomorrow’s game at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, the 25-year-old said: “I certainly hope that first goal is coming!

“You obviously are going to get fewer chances and get less time to take them in this league, but it’s a challenge me and Ingsy are relishing.”

The duo have struck up a decent relationship so far on the pitch - the results of some hard work down at Gawthorpe.

Ings and Sam Vokes combined to devastating effect last season, scoring 47 goals between them on the way to promotion, and, in the absence of Vokes, who continues his recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament, Jutkiewicz revealed: “There are a couple of things in training we’ve tried to work on that will hopefully help us.

“Obviously, playing against top quality opposition it will take a bit more to open teams up.

“But it is something we’re working on and we will hopefully get better as the games go on.”

The former Coventry City frontman had a previous spell in the Premier League with Everton, between 2007 and 2010 after a £1m switch from Swindon Town.

He only made one appearance in the top division under David Moyes though, coming on asa a substitute in a 3–0 victory over Sunderland in December 2008.

Jutkiewicz is delighted to be able to get a proper opportunity to play against the cream of English football: “I’m really enjoying it, the lads have made me feel really welcome.

“I’m loving being able to test myself against the very best.”

Before the international break, Burnley picked up their first point of the season in a goal-less draw at Turf Moor against Manchester United.

Jutkiewicz was foiled by David De Gea early on in that game, but he took encouragement from the performance and result: “It was nice to go into the break having got off the mark.

“It gives us something to build on after the international break.

“We’ve had a couple of the lads away on international duty, but most of the squad has been here and it’s been a great opportunity to work on a few things and build on that point.”